I have never seen Hedera colchica-(looks pretty cool on the web site)-but if it is going to be a backdrop for your dogwoods, the red Cornus might get lost (shows up better against something light colored) and the Cornus may be too tall for the foreground. (36 inches tall for the site on Hedera colchica 'Green Spice' I saw.) But then again it may just turn out perfect for you! What about a Ilex? Or Viburnum rhytidophyllum? (not real up on zone 7 either) Good Luck!

Thanks for the ideas! I should probably wait to buy a new variety of plant anyway, let it prove itself in this area first. Viburnums and Ilexs are good choices around here.

Do you know some mail order places that have specific varieties of cornus? I'm looking for "Cardinal" and "Silver and Gold" (unless I find something with even better red or yellow)

'Silver & Gold' sounds variegated--never saw it,I will have to check that one out! I only know 'Flaviramea'. You know, Kerria japonica has stems a light yellow green color and also is suckering and has real nice yellow single or double flowers, so if you are looking for yellow/green stems you might want to check these out too. Spring Meadow Nursery in Grand Haven, MI sells all of the above but I think they are just wholesalers but here is the web address: www.springmeadownursery.com
they also have a toll free # (800) 633-8859. Good Luck!!

A really great nursery for many rare and unusual shrubs, as well as lots of other kinds of plants, is ForestFarm in Oregon. They have a website (it was under construction last time I checked) as well as a catalog, and I've heard it recommended by many people and gardening magazines. (Well, I didn't HEAR it from magazines--) They will really blow your mind with plants you've been looking for and plants you've never heard of, and they usually sell what they call 'tubes', or smaller sizes, for ridiculously low prices, and then have larger sizes too. (Gardening is the only place I know where you can buy time--i.e.large plants!)